Actually, I think this is not unexpected. Critical means a patient has their own nurse and/or must be checked every hour—if I recall correctly. He just had surgery so I would hope he would get special attention.
if he is in ICU, and I assume after gunshot surgery one would be, then its termed critical.
It’s more than that, and appreciably worse. AMA and JCAH definitions are:
“Critical: Vital signs are unstable and not within normal limits. Patient may be unconscious. Indicators are unfavorable”.
It’s the “indicators are unfavorable” part that is the worst.
American Hospital Association says that Critical means a lot more than that. Look it up.
I pray you are correct.
Very smart comment and could likely be so. If it goes to the next step and then we will be in trouble.
Just because you have surgery does not make you critical. A change in status does aka a bleed, a change in vitals, kidneys, lungs,etc. It could be any number of things.
Not to mention every pt has their own nurse.